Stopper operating mechanisms for ladles



Jan. 3, 1933. M. J. NEMEs 1,893,436

STOPPER OPERATING MECHANISMS FOR LADLES Filed March l9. l93l Pvl-TURNY Patented Jan. 3, 1933 UNITED vsi-A-'riisl PATENT OFFICE MIKE JULIAN NEMESV, OF STEUBNVI-LLE, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO WVM.I AA. BLA1V.L"101\T, OF ISTEUBENVILLE, OHIO s'rorriiit OPERATING MEcHANisivis v:E012J LA nLEs Application led March 19, 1931.vV Serial No. 523,779.

This invention relates broadly to ladles of the type employed in the making of steel, and more specifically to mechanism for operating the stoppers of such ladles.

The primary object of the invention is to provide, in association with a ladle, novel and improved mechanism for effecting lowering and elevating movements of the stopper with respect to the orifice or nozzle ic through which the molten metal is poured from the ladle. f

A further object is to provide a stopper operating mechanism, or rig, embodying an improved form of housing for the vertically shiftable rod by means of which is supported the stopper and the stopper-carrying stem, said housing affording convenient access for removal and replacement of said rod as occasion requires.

In describing the invention in detail, reference is herein had to the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a steel ladle, showing in front elevation'my invention applied thereto;

Figure 2 is a partial vertical section of said ladle, showing the invention in side elevation;

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical detail scction showing the stopper aligning mechanism;

Figure 4 is an enlarged section on line 4-4, Fig. 1; and- Figure 5 is an enlarged front elevation of the upper end portion of the shift rod.

Referring to said dra-wing, 1 designates generally a ladle of the character commonly employed for receiving and transferring molten steel and other metals to molds, said ladle having in the bottom thereof a delivery port or nozzle 2 through which the metal is poured.

Vertically movable into and out of closing relation to the delivery port 2 is a stopper 3 carried on the lower end of a vertically disposed rod or stem l which, in turn, is car-` ried by the inner end of a horizontally disposed arm 5, commonly termed a goose neck. Said arm is mounted at its outer end .upon the reduced or shaft-like upper end portion 6a of able verti a vertical shift-rod 6 which is shifti l cally for eecting lowering and elevating movements of the stopper relative to said delivery port.

Theshift-rod 6 has a substantial midlength portion thereof closely encased vby and longitudinally shiftableyin a housing provided therefor which is pivotally mounted intermey diate its ends at' a side of the ladle, Vas upon a bracket right Abod 7. VSaid housing comprises anfupy 8 which carries, or has formed integral therewith, intermediate its upper and lower ends an inwardly directed yarm 9 mounted by upon a pivot pin or bolt 10 carried said bracket 7L Provided in the outer face of and extending 'throughout the lengthy of said body 8 is a channel 11 of approximately semi-cylindrical form adapted forthe reception of theadjacent side of the body portion of the shift-rod 6. Y

Suitably mounted upon and complementing said body 8 in the formation of rod hous either be relative t the shifting is a faceplate 12 which may completely or partially removable o said body. By preference and asl herein shown, said face plateihas hinged relation at one of its lateral edges with said body, ticulated having hinge lugs -or members 13 arwith and pivoted'to corresponding lugs 14 formed on said body 8, thus Ato render said plate movable oni-tsy hinges into and out of complemental closing relation to said body.

A similar hinged relation between said body and said face plate may be provided at the opposite side of the housing by the provision of lugs 13 and 14, vthus not only to afford means for effectively securing said edge to the body 8, but also to render it possible, in opening the housing, to utilize either set of hinges according as it is desired to swing said face plate toward one side vor the other. To open the housing the pivot pins 15 of one or the other of the two sets of hinges are withf drawn, thereby rendering said-face plate free to swing to open position, kas indicated in dotted lines in Fig. t.V

The purpose had n view in rendering the shift-rod 6 removable is to permit straightenin@ thereof in the event that 4it .should become bent to th e extent that elevati on and lowering se: l

ment with said side face. of the iirst member and complemental thereto for providing a bearing for the rod, means on opposite sides of the members for hingedly and removably connecting each side of the second member to the first member, said hinging means being independent of each other and each including a removable hinge pin so that upon selective removalof either pin the second member may be swung away from the 'iirst member 0n either of its sides.

In testimonv whereof, I afIiX my signature.

'MIKE JULIAN NEMES.

out removal of said bolt. The lower end of the face-plate 12 is also provided with a slot 19 through which the outer end portion of said bolt protrudes, as shown.

The lower end portion of the body 8 of the housing for the shift rod has opposite laterally extending wings 20 in each of which is mounted a pin 2l, and pivotally mounted` upon each of said pins is an intermediate portion of a hand lever 22 which is adapted to be manually operated to effect elevating and lowering movements Vof said shift rod. Each of said levers has in its inner end portion a slot'23 in which is received a lift-pin 24 that has its inner end fixed in the shift rod. As is obvious, downwardly directed force applied manually to either orboth of said levers tends to elevate the shift rod and thus, through the interm-ediaey of the arm 5 and stem 4, to ei'ect withdrawal of the stopper 3 from the delivery port or nozzle 2.

Interposed between the lower part of the shift-rod housing and the adjacent wall of the ladle is mechanism for adjusting the position of said housing for disposing the stopper and its stem in accurately alined relation to the delivery port. Said mechanism comprises a horizontally disposed screw, or av shaft 25 having a'screw-threaded end operatively engaged with the screw threads of a socket/ed bracket 26 fixed upon the side of the ladle. The opposite end of said screw 25 is swiveled in a bracket 27 carried by the adjacent face of the body 8 of the housing, as shown. A hand wheel 28 fixed on saidy shaft affords means whereby said shaft may be rotated to rock the housing on its pivotal mounting forV eii'ecting the required adjustment.

While the body ofthe shift rod 6, in the preferred form herein shown, is of semicylindrical form, presenting a iiat face 6b against which the inner face ofthe face-plate 12 seats when the latterV occupies its closed position, it is manifest that said rod may have other suitable form.

A mounting for the shift rod of the stopper of a ladle including an elongated member having a longitudinal socket which opens through a side face of the member for receiving the rod, means to support said member on a ladle, a second member for engage- 

